Stats

Lifespan: 3-7 yrs
Size: Medium
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate conifer forest
Range: North America
Movement: Climbing
Breeding: Live birth
Defense: Speed
Status: Uncommon

About

A tufted-eared tree squirrel of Southwestern ponderosa pine forests, easily recognized by its long ear tassels that grow longest in winter. It relies almost entirely on a symbiotic relationship with a single pine species for food and shelter.

Life cycle

1.
newborn pup
A blind, hairless pup nurses in the nest and is unable to regulate its own warmth.
2.
juvenile
A weaned juvenile is fully furred, leaves the nest, and begins foraging on solid food.
3.
adult
Fully grown and self-sufficient.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sciurus
Species: Sciurus aberti